Halton teachers to stage one-day strike Wednesday

“To date, the education minister (Laurel Broten) has yet to do anything to assist local school boards in pursuing fair and respectful negotiations with our members,” said Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO). “She can end the chaos she has created by repealing Bill 115 and letting local bargaining proceed without interference.”

“The education minister has placed severe restrictions on local talks by wielding the excessive and unnecessary powers of Bill 115,” said Marg Macfarlane, president of the Halton Teacher Local. “She needs to rethink her approach so that our board and local can get on with finding solutions that are fair and respectful.”

“How can this minister and government abide by the chaos created by a law that has no place in a modern democracy?” added Al Bero, president of the Halton Occasional Teacher Local.

“While a strike is difficult and inconvenient for everyone, our members are standing up for the democratic rights of educators and all working Ontarians,” said Amy Rasmussen, president of the Halton DECE local.

During a vote on October 2, 2012, the locals received overwhelming mandates for strike action from their members. The locals moved into a legal strike position on December 13. Prior to that, they received no board reports through the conciliator appointed by the Ministry of Labour to resolve their bargaining impasse with Halton District School Board.